Thomas floyd



T.. FLOYD.

VAULTGOVER.

Patented Dec. 2, 1856.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS FLOYD, OF CI-IAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOS. FLOYD AND GEO. H. MERKLIN.

VAULT-COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 16,161, dated December 2, 1856.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS FLOYD, of Chambersburg, in the count-y of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Vault-Cover; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1, a sectional view with cover down. Fig. 2, a sectional view with cover raised. Fig. 3, a perspective vlew. Fig. 4.,

the rim sunk in a pavement with the lid or cover removed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction, and operation.

In Fig. 1, A is the .lid or coverB the sides of the rim fitted into the pavementO arms attached to the sides of the rim, as bearings for friction rollers a, and spiral springs Z), and catch (Z. D, guides, with notches in their lower ends, attached to lid A and working in groove 0, in Fig. etf, the cross piece with a hole in it for the rod g of the cover to pass through, and the spiral spring which raises the cover to rest upon. 2', the arm attached to the sliding catch (Z. 76, the cords for raising the cover, Z, the cord for depressing the cover.

In Fig. 2, A is the cover raised. sides of the rimO, the arms attached to the rim, (Z, the catch. D, the guides attached to cover. 7", the cross piece, g, rod passing through the crosspiece 7, 71. the spiral spring.

In Fig. 3 A is the cover, B, the rim, C the arms, a, friction rollers, Z), spiral springs, (Z, catch Working through bearings O, and rim B. i the arm attached to the sliding catch, 7.: the cords to raise the cover.

In Fig. l, E is the pavement into which the rim is set, and is supported in its position by the flange m, on the upper edge of the rim 7, the depression on the inner partof B the the rim to receive the cover, a the grooves for guides D. i

In the operation of my invention the rim B, is permanently set in the pavement as shown in Fig. 4, and the cover A with guides D passes down in the grooves 6, until the notch 0 comes parallel with the catch (Z, when it springs into the notch and fastens it down being in the grooves rendering it impossible to open the vault from above. hen I wish to raise the cover, I pull the cords 7a, 7a which press back the catches (Z and springs 6 until the catch is relieved from its hold on the guides D in notches 0, when the spring 7L presses up the cover, where it stands leaving a sufficient space open for light and air; if it is desired to remove the cover entirely, it can be lifted out easily for the purpose of putting in coal and wood. The cover when raised can be left up for purposes of air and light without the danger of accident to pedestrians as the opening is still covered, and if any one should tread on it, it will sink down to its proper place, and fasten itself. The cover can be fastened from above in this way at any time, or it can be fastened from below by pulling cord Z, when the cover will descend until the notches are parallel with catches (Z, when they spring forward in the notches, and 'hold the cover down as seen in Fig. 4.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

The guides D, working in grooves e, in combination with cross bar f, spring 71, and rod 9 for the purpose of elevating the cover as described. I also claim guides D, in combination with catches or bolts (Z, and springs b for fastening the cover down, as described.

THOMAS FLOYD.

Witnesses:

T. G. CLAYTON, O. O. WVILLsoN. 

